Collar-Mountable Bobbin Antenna with Dedicated Wireways
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Solution Overview
Problem
In drill string logging applications, the space constraints in drill string collars limit the efficient routing of conductive wires to multiple logging tools, leading to potential damage from drilling fluid penetration and interference between tools.
Innovation Solution
A collar-mountable bobbin antenna with dedicated wireways and non-conductive materials, allowing for easy mounting and replacement, and providing additional space for components like dedicated wireways to prevent interference and enhance reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple logging tools share a single wireway in the drill string collar, then space constraints are addressed, but reliability deteriorates due to potential damage from drilling fluid penetration and interference between tools
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the collar into multiple separate wireways, with each wireway dedicated to a specific logging tool or antenna. This segmentation isolates each tool's wiring from others, preventing interference and protecting against drilling fluid penetration that would affect multiple tools simultaneously. Each wireway acts as an independent channel, maintaining reliability while accommodating multiple tools within the collar's space constraints.
2Stability of the object's composition
If antennas are machined directly into the drill string collar, then integration is improved, but adaptability deteriorates due to space constraints and difficulty in replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the antenna from the collar structure itself and places it in a separate, removable bobbin assembly that mounts to the collar. This allows the antenna to be easily replaced or reconfigured without modifying the collar. The bobbin assembly can be removed and replaced as needed, providing adaptability while maintaining stable integration through the mounting mechanism. Different antenna types can be used by simply changing the bobbin assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the antenna system dynamic by allowing the bobbin assembly to be easily mounted and removed from the collar. This dynamic configuration enables flexible replacement of antennas based on measurement needs, whereas machining antennas directly into the collar would create a static, fixed configuration. The removable bobbin design adapts to different measurement requirements while maintaining secure integration during operation.
3Reliability
If a bobbin antenna with dedicated wireway is used, then reliability improves through protection from drilling fluid, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent nests the antenna coil and ferrite core within a bobbin assembly, which then mounts to the collar. The wireway is integrated into the bobbin structure, nesting multiple functions (antenna, wire routing, protection) within a single assembly unit. This nesting approach protects the wiring from drilling fluid while managing complexity by consolidating components into an integrated bobbin unit rather than having separate elements throughout the collar.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables cost-effective, reliable, and efficient downhole measurements by ensuring dedicated wireways for each antenna, preventing damage from drilling fluid and allowing for additional components in the collar, thus improving the accuracy and durability of subsurface formation property determination.
Implementation Method 1
ferrite disposed within the multiple slots on the inner surface of the bobbin
Implementation Method 2
conductive wire disposed within the multiple slots on the outer surface of the bobbin
Data Source
AI summary
A collar-mountable antenna for transmitting and receiving signals in a downhole environment, in at least some embodiments, comprises a bobbin having an inner surface and an outer surface, each of the inner and outer surfaces defining multiple slots, conductive wire disposed within the multiple slots on the outer surface of the bobbin, and ferrite disposed within the multiple slots on the inner surface of the bobbin.